China miffed at India ties with 3 nations

The 'quadrilateral' of the United States, Japan, Australia and India has driven China round the bend but New Delhi is swiftly coursing towards fine-tuning its ties with those countries.

Unmoved by Beijing referring to the grouping as “Asian Nato” and the Left’s high-decibel opposition to India kowtowing to the American line, the government seems to be in no mood to tone down its growing strategic and military ties with these nations.

With several bilateral exchanges, high-profile visits and multilateral war games in the pipeline, the days ahead are full of opportunities to foster relations with the US, Japan and Australia, both militarily and otherwise.

In a visit aimed at addressing common security concerns, Vice Admiral Russ E Shalders, chief of the Royal Australian Navy, arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit on Monday. Shalders was given a presentation on India’s appreciation of the situation in the Indian Ocean region. He met defence secretary Vijay Singh and the three service chiefs.

Australia has been invited to take part in the Indo-US joint naval exercises Malabar 07, which will take place in the Bay of Bengal from September 4-9. It is sending a destroyer, HMS Adelaide and a logistics support ship. Over 20 warships are participating in these war games, with Japan and Singapore also contributing assets to build a climate of confidence.